Do you remember one particular class or book or person who shaped your future career? In third grade we did a unit on penguins. I loved it. Like, LOVED IT. So I started seeking out any book or show - or whatever - that had to do with penguins. I looked up how old you had to be to volunteer at the aquarium. I found out that the people who feed the penguins at the aquarium are called marine biologists, so I pegged that as my future career. Spoiler: I’m not a marine biologist. I found out …
toddler
Favorite Non-Electronic Toddler Toys
Like most moms, I cannot stand toys that make noise. Especially toys that make the same noise over and over and over. When I started to think about all of our favorite toys, I realized that they're all non-electronic toys. They don't need batteries, and they require a toddler to use imagination to play! I remember reading an article about toddler toys (I couldn't find it but will link it here if I do find the link!) that talked about the importance of imaginative play. Many electronic toys …
Current Favorites
Crib Mattress Review: Newton Baby vs. Safety 1st
I never make a purchase without researching it about 900 times. Let me take that back... When I'm standing in line at HomeGoods, I will 100% make a purchase on a whim. Otherwise, I will research it approximately 900 times. There was no exception to this when I was putting together our baby registry, and especially when it came to the crib and mattress. An old furniture-store commercial always rings in my head: "You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping." I wanted our daughter to be …
Motherhood at 18 Months
18 months old was a little over a month ago, but for some reason I thought I had already published this post. Whoops! Time seriously is just flying. My teeny tiny newborn baby is now a walking, talking, opinion-holding toddler. Overall, motherhood at this stage is both easier and harder than it has been at other stages. Play tea set | Toddler writing table | Light pink chair set (also comes in light blue) When I vlogged last, we were at a really rough point. E wasn't yet communicating as …
Words of Encouragement: 6 Things I Say to My Daughter Everyday
For a variety of reasons, T and I parent with a positive parenting style. That is, we try to do a lot more praising for good actions vs. disciplining for less-than-good actions. Obviously, there are times when we have to say "no" or "we don't do that." (Literally twice a day I have to say, "We don't eat the dog's food.") I've noticed myself saying the same phrases to my daughter everyday. They're essentially words of encouragement. This kind of happened without my meaning it to... I …
